CAMP Chronicles: Winter 2022

Happy Holidays

2022 Winter Issue

As the year draws to a close, we want to say thank you! Thank you for your enthusiasm, generosity, and support of individuals with disabilities. In 2022, we have seen programs come back to full speed, the Gala was held in person, we met new families and spent time with old friends at CAMPfest, and we simply got to SEE everyone again. We are thankful for every one of you! Our staff and board wish you and your family best wishes for the holiday season.

Sincerely,

Susan and the CAMP Team!

Camping Team– Brandon, Dee, Laurel, and Michael Facilities Team Ken, Mason, Richard, and Dan Development Team Dianna, Lauren, Nancy, and Taylor Family Support Team– Amanda, Chris, and Stacie Volunteer & Administration Team– Sarah, Stephanie, Paula, and Bobby

CAMP needs YOU

CAMP is seeking enthusiastic and vibrant volunteers who are looking to challenge themselves and make the most of each moment as a friend to an individual with medical conditions and/or disabilities.

CAMP's School Year Program season is in full swing from now until May. By volunteering during a school year program, families receive respite, campers participate in recreational and social activities, and volunteers gain leadership experiences! The staff/volunteer application for CAMP's school year programs is live on our website, www.campcamp.org, and we hope that you can join us for some fun this season. Volunteers may earn service hours for each program, ranging between 5 35 hours.

During the summer, CAMP holds week long overnight camps for the individuals we serve to participate in traditional camping activities such as canoeing, horseback riding, swimming, outdoor cooking, arts and crafts and so much more! All summer volunteer counselors are required to attend a week long training session before being eligible to volunteer as a buddy to a camper. During training, volunteers learn how to provide care for their camper and how to help everyone reach their maximum potential. Volunteers can earn up to 198 service hours. Applications for summer volunteer positions will be available in early January!

Volunteers continue to be the extraordinary driving force of CAMP programs. With your help, CAMP will continue to strengthen and inspire our campers, bringing more smiles to their faces! Sign up today to be a part of this extra special team.

Questions? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteerservices@campcamp.org

to be a part of our fantastic volunteer team!

It’s time for everyone to pick their favorite mode of time travel whether that is through a wormhole, a modified DeLorean, a TARDIS, or some other time machine of your choosing… Because in the Summer of 2023, we’re going to be living or re living some of the best days of our lives!

In 2023 we’re going to look back and celebrate fun and fashion from years past, while moving full speed ahead with all the new memories and excitement our CAMP friends and activities will bring. If you love all things old school, retro, throwback, or classic, you are in for a treat as we hit REWIND and go back in time! And if you prefer to dream ahead of things to come we’ve got you covered there as well as we FAST FORWARD into the future! And in the middle of it all, we’ll find plenty of time to PLAY!

To find our way through all these wrinkles in time there are a few critical components with medical conditions and/or disabilities (aged 5 55) and their siblings (aged 14 and up)

 Volunteer Counselors (aged 15 and up)

 Healthcare Volunteers (licensed physicians, nurses, pharmacists, other health professionals, and students in these disciplines)

 Seasonal Staff (aged 16 and up, for paid positions when committing to work half or more of the summer)

Applications for all these roles will be available through www.campcamp.org and spaces fill up quickly! For more information on each role, please visit the links above.

No matter what kind of magic time machine helps you REWIND, PLAY, or FAST FORWARD to CAMP in 2023, we can’t wait to see you around the CAMPfire!

Spotlight on Iliana Hernandez

Iliana began volunteering at CAMP in 2021 and has dedicated her time to both summer camp and year round programs. She is even working on starting a Friends of CAMP ambassador organization at her school! She says “After experiencing my first week volunteering, I was blown away by the amount of fun and accessible activities that CAMP has to offer… For me, spending time at CAMP is a getaway from everyday life. I know I’m not alone in this sentiment, and CAMP holds a very special place in so many people’s hearts. I love the feeling of being there because all I think about is CAMP. Being able to fulfill my weekends with fun activities and vibrant laughter is such a gift and I feel so lucky to be able to experience this…”

Thank you Iliana for your amazing commitment to CAMP!

Eagle Scouts make a lasting impact at CAMP!

Thanks to Will Toman from Scout Troop 285 for the accessible fire pit designed intentionally for outdoor cooking! Located near the river, this is the perfect place for campers of all abilities to learn outdoor cooking skills while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

THANKS Will!

Thanks to Benton Ward from Scout Troop 345 for the new chicken coop and rabbit hutch enclosure along with an accessible path leading to it! This is the perfect opportunity to expand the Nature Center and provide even more hands-on nature experiences to campers!

THANKS Benton!

PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY HOSTS “ABILITY CAMP”

CAMP received a $10,000 grant for materials from The Ability Experience and approximately 30 collegiate members representing Texas area chapters of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity came for a work weekend. They arrived Friday night and left after lunch on Sunday during the October Respite Weekend! In addition to their hard work, they joined our campers and volunteers for meals and the Saturday evening dance and activities.

“Ability Camps” and are made possible by the annual fundraising efforts of Pi Kappa Phi chapters nationwide. Every year across the country multiple camps serving persons with disabilities are selected and are awarded a $5,000+ grant to purchase building materials and supplies for various building projects requested by the camps. Then the collegiate members from the area chapters travel to the camp for an intense work weekend to complete the projects (often scheduled during existing camp programs like our Respite Weekend). This way the guys also get the chance to interact with the campers while they’re here and get a better sense of the value of their efforts.

The main projects included a very large 3 tier accessible deck to be a place to relax in the shade with some hammocks, Adirondack chairs and a few rockers (between the Dining Hall and the Arts and Crafts pavilion) AND some improvements to our Activities Pavilion.

The Ability Experience is the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, a national collegiate fraternity based in Charlotte, NC with over 140 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide. Our own Director of Facilities Operations, Ken Kaiser is an alumni member of the Fraternity and also happened to serve as the Executive Director of The Ability Experience (formerly “Push America”) in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Ken has been instrumental in helping CAMP to establish a strong and ongoing relationship with this organization. “These events really shed a different light on the typical stereotypes people have regarding what fraternities are all about. This fraternity is very committed to community service as one of its core principles and strongly believes that volunteer experiences through events like these play a major role in their collegiate growth and development AND can have a lasting impact on who they become later in life. That was certainly the case for me and is 100% behind the reason why I happen to be working at CAMP today” stated Kaiser.

Over the years, CAMP has received approximately $40,000 in grant funding plus thousands of hours of volunteer labor from the Pi Kapps. Some of their past projects have included building a stage at the Night Activity Pavilion, a “swingzebo” next to the dining hall, swings and fencing down at the river front, and a pasture and shelters for the goats and mini horse to name a few. Kaiser added, “I could literally spin you around and point you in almost any direction at CAMP and you’d run across one of their projects. It’s an incredible thrill to have been a part of creating this program back in the late 80’s and now being on the recipient end some 40 years later.”

“I am very proud of my fraternity and especially their incredibly generous and ongoing efforts on behalf of CAMP!”

Ken Kaiser

CAMP is excited for all the amazing programs in 2023!

Please consider purchasing from our Amazon wish list. Any item is appreciated and will be used for activities such as: arts and crafts, sports and games and much more.

bit.ly/CAMPSMILE

Champions fore Charity is a unique opportunity for you to give to CAMP and have 7% of your gift matched by Valero through the 2023 Valero Texas Open. With this amazing program, YOU can make a 107% difference for CAMP!

WOW!

Guess the Champion Contest

To add even more excitement, guess who will win the 2023 Valero Texas Open tournament for a chance to win a Stay & Play Gift Package to TPC San Antonio and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort (must provide email address on donation form). The Stay & Play Gift Package

Includes: 3 night stay at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa; breakfast for two (2) each morning; two (2) rounds of golf for two (2) at TPC San Antonio; spa service for two (2).

Even More Fun...

For added fun, twenty five (25) lucky donors will be randomly drawn to each win a $100 Valero gas gift card!

Tributes are from September 1 through November 30

All the staff and volunteers who are critical to CAMP's mission! by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

All the Volunteer Counselors and Healthcare Volunteers who make CAMP possible! by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Dr. Chris, Dr. Fred, and in Memorium to Dr. Bob by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Dr. Robert de Lemos, Dr. Chris Plauche, Dr. Fred McCurdy, and Dr. Don McCurnin by Mark and Janis Croley

The amazing work by the year-round CAMP staff! by Tim and Dianna Hopkins

The 14th Annual CAMP Gals celebrating volunteers by Olive Anne Kleberg

CAMP Alumni whom I've had the honor of mentoring over the past 15 years! by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Ruben Abrego by Debra Abrego

Collins Allen by Tom and Jennifer McGaughy

Burke Askin by Deborah James

Aurora Ayers by Aaliyah Lopez

Sherry and Gene Bielke by Terri Oliver

Bridged Blakesley by Maureen Moynihan

Dr. Brandon Briery by Carolyn Powell by Mary Richardson by Tammy Browne and Ruth Eyres

Ember Marie Briery by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Bob Brock by Jane Wilson

Oliver Broner by Judit Broner by Kelly Epstein

Taylor Burris by Tim and Dianna Hopkins

CAMP Ambassadors by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

CAMP CAMP 2022 Summer Staff by Rene Craft

Colin Campbell by Wes and Joyce Campbell

The Campbell Family by Erin Childress

Janice Casey by Angelique Richardson

Caroline Chlebowski by Sharon Wilson

Daria Dugina by Larry and Olga Locha

D. Clarke Evans by Bob Zachary and Madeleine Reichert Zachary

Trent Evans by Matt and Dee Evans by Nancy and Carl Smith

Sue Farley by Charles and Kim Murphy

Sierra "Sweetpea" Fedder by S. Rickert

Nancy Gerson by Tim and Dianna Hopkins by Natalie Levine

Breanna Harrison by Michelle Autry

Michael Hawkins by The Hill Family

Mikie Hawkins by Elaine Hawkins

Tameka Hughes by Pam Stephens

Josh Johnston by Nancy Johnston

Kalyn by George Politakis

Karen by Marilyn Westley

Owen Koch by Georgina and Gary Koch

Matthew Lindeman by Mike and Cindy Lindeman

Shana Lipstreu by Jeana Lipstreu

Michael Maffei by Michael Maffei

Mayah the counselor by Shannon Thieme

Ken and Brandon McConnell by Mary McConnell

Bernadette McKay by Clarissa Mora by Roxanna Gonzales

Julianna Micklitz by Aurora Ayers

Olivia Morkovsky by Decel and Olivia Morkovsky

Claire Moynihan by Courtney Davies

Danielle Muniz by Carla Reily

Gregorio Nava by Frances Jimenez

Matthew Pena by Matthew Pena & Amelia Reyna

Carolyn Powell by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Ruth, Anton, & Scott - The "RAS Crew!" by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Scott Reeve by Nancy Butler

Chloe Shao by Li Wang

AJ Smith by Ann Haynes

Tributes are from September 1 through November 30

Dr. Harry Adams by Roland and Janice Patry

Scarlett Ancellotti by James Massey

Regina Anderson by Redia Anderson by Amanda Meigs and Jason Curtis

Helen Barker by Valerie Cantu

Patsy Barksdale Neely by Kelly Sharp

Edward and Mary Rose Blass by Alison Blass

Robert Boehm by Shelby Boehm

Sammie Marie Briery by Brandon Briery Ph.D. by Gerry and Cheryl Busald

Virgil and Sammie Briery by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Chewie and Sam - my other roommates who are now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge by Brandon Briery Ph.D.

Scott Brown by Ron and Phebe Brown

Jackie Curtis by Robert and Charlene Gerner by Amanda Meigs and Jason Curtis by Stephen Meigs

Joseph Garza by Mario and Tanya Garza

James Gonzales by Veronica Gonzales

Meghan Hill by Leanna Brinsmade by General (R) Tom and Dr. Toni Hill by Ron Thomas by Claudia True

Justin Jewell by Lori McIrvin

Jill Leonowich by Pamela Leonowich

Matt Lipham by Dr. and Mrs. Fred A. McCurdy

Nathan Lockhart by Arturo and Melissa Freyre

Sunny the camp counselor by Shannon Thieme

Joseph Thomson by Stacie Solis

Ellis Vargas-Zachary by Jay and Pat Vargas Zachary

Lauren Weiss by Tim and Dianna Hopkins

Papa and Mama Magaro by Mark and Bernadette McKay

Traci Martin by Natalie Crabtree by Steve and Judy Foster

DeAnn Miller by Larry and Kathy McClaugherty

Kathleen Morones by David Pulliam

Neal McClaugherty by William Manahan

Rachel Reavis by Dana Sims

Zachary Thurmond by Donna Allan by Jeff Anastasio by Jordan Gonzalez

Joshua Ellis Veale and Caleb Anderson Veale by Dorothy Veale

Michelle Wallace by Susan Lee